Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
A groan came from John’s throat.
“I didn’t think spies got soul mates.” Taylor was starting to understand that Julia Ennis was batshit crazy.
“Then you probably haven’t met yours.” Julia’s boot tapped against the floor of the elevator.
“Don’t get her started on soul mates.” John shook his head. “Her ex tried to kill her but she thinks she can fix the relationship.”
“I think that true love is worth a little work,” Julia corrected. “I’m not some delicate flower who wilts the first time something goes wrong.”
“He shot you.” John seemed to be more of a realist.
“And he didn’t do a good job of it. I’m alive and stuff. He was angry. He didn’t truly want me dead.” She waved off the whole Kyle-tried-to-kill-her thing. “And now he’s punishing me, but we’re working our way through it. He’s gotten rid of the ridiculous doll he’d been playing with, and soon we’ll meet up and have an actual adult discussion.”
She talked like they’d had nothing more than a minor argument and it could be easily handled. She didn’t understand how much Kyle loathed her.
Would Kyle try to kill her tonight? Suddenly she was happy Drake wasn’t around because he should be able to avoid the scene that was going to happen.
God, this woman had killed her father and she was thinking about how to protect her boyfriend.
And that is how it should be, dushka. Life is for the living. The best revenge is to live and love and have a happy life.
Her father had never said those words to her, but she heard him in her heart. It was like he was standing there with her, giving her his strength.
She didn’t have the advantage with John here or she might pull her Glock and deal with the Julia situation once and for all. It was odd that she didn’t feel the rush of emotion she thought she would. If she killed Julia, it would be to help Drake and Kyle. It wouldn’t be for her father. He didn’t need that from her. He needed her to be happy, to have the life she wanted. To marry Drake and have children and tell them stories of the grandfather who would have loved them so well.
“Constance here doesn’t have a boy toy,” Julia said as the elevator was starting to slow down. “It’s a good thing. The group I work for prefers single women. I think part of the reason we all get Johns is for stress relief. Sorry, buddy. I don’t mean to call you a walking vibrator, but if the shoe fits…”
“Hey, I’m good at my job and I like sex. Sex and violence work for me,” John admitted.
“Like I said, I prefer to work alone,” Taylor lied. She would be doing a lot of that in the next few moments.
“Good, because we are looking for a self-starter,” Julia announced. The doors opened and she strode through. “I think that should be part of our ad. Evil organization looking for self-starter to terrorize the world for profits.”
John followed her but Taylor stopped because they weren’t alone. There were two women dressed in dark suits standing outside the big double doors to one of the suites on the floor.
She started to back up, to get in the elevator again because her every instinct was telling her something was wrong.
Julia stopped and glanced back, one brow arching. “Something wrong?” She seemed to understand. “Oh, the guards. It’s cool. They’re with us, though they are also a bit on the grumpy side. What is it with personal security details that they have to be so grumpy? Smile a little. Don’t you know how pretty you could be if you would smile more?”
“Fuck you, Lizzy,” the first of the guards said, revealing she wasn’t merely with Julia. If she knew Julia’s code name, she was with The Consortium.
The other one chuckled. “I don’t know. I think she’s got a point. Who’s the new girl?”
“Cleo was recruiting her,” Julia said. “She’s with the Agency. I’m giving her an audition tonight. Everything’s in place?”
“As far as I can tell,” the guard said and looked down at her watch. “I think I’m going on my planned break. Sheila will be here if you need anything. Your friend should be here soon.”
“Excellent.” Julia nodded Sheila’s way as the other guard headed down the hallway and disappeared. “Keep an eye out. I’ll be right back. I need to make sure everything is ready for Constance’s first mission. We need to get her out of here before the party downstairs breaks up.”
Good. They were getting this thing moving. Drake would get back from his meeting anytime now and then she had to hope Damon Knight could convince him to wait patiently for her.
“Okay, lock down that elevator to anyone who doesn’t have the right code. I’ll be back.” Julia slid a key card over the lock and the door came open.